Sadhus to hold special prayers for peace: Mahant
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 25: The Chhari Mubarak of Swami Amarnath Ji led by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji, its sole custodian and head of True Trust will reach the holy cave situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in deep Himalyas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag early tomorrow morning from Panjtarni, which is the last transit camp on way to cave shrine via traditional Chandanwari track.
The Chhari Mubarak reached Panjtarni from Sheshnag yesterday and after having two night halts at Panjtarni it will leave at 6 am towards holy cave to pay obeisance to ice Lingam of Lord Shiva and also perform Puja in a traditional way on the occasion of Shravan Purnima.
It will return to Panjtarni in the evening and have a night halt there before starting return journey to Pahalgam on way to its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar next day.
Talking to Excelsior from Panjtarni, Mahant Deependra Giri said that Chhari Mubark will reach cave shrine tomorrow morning and this day has a lot of significance for the darshan as per Vedas and other religious scriptures of Hindus.
He said Puja will be performed in a traditional way at the cave shrine by the Sadhus and other devotees accompanying the holy mace. A ‘Samohik Prarthana’ will also be held for restoration of peace in the turmoil ravaged State of J&K.
Mahant Ji, in his message to the people as well as both Central and State Governments, appealed them that they should give priority to peace at this juncture by keeping a moratorium on contentious issues. “Everyone belonging to any party and group should work to give peace a chance as people of the State have suffered a lot during last 30 years’’, he added.
He said after performing darshan at holy cave, the Chhari Mubarak will return to Panjtarni in the evening and having a night halt there it will leave for Pahalgam on August 27.
Next day on August 28 the rituals and immersion ceremony will be performed on the banks of river Lidder and Sadhus will be served prashad in a traditional way before leaving for Dashnami Akhara Srinagar –the abode of holy mace. This will mark the culmination of two –month long holy Amarnath yatra, he added.
According to Camp Director, Panjtarni, Rohit Sharma all arrangements are in place at Panjtarni and holy cave where the Chhari Mubarak will reach for darshan tomorrow morning.
He said elaborate security arrangements have also been made for the Sadhus and Mahant Ji accompanying the holy mace which is escorted by jawans of SDRF, MRT, NDRF and local police.
He said two columns of Army are also accompanying the holy mace one leading it in front and another covering it from back side right from Chandanwari to cave shrine and it will also accompany it during its return to Pahalgam.
He said 129 pilgrims including Sadhus accompanying Chhari Mubarak are staying at Panjtarni. He said weather is good at Panjtarni and in the holy cave area. However, it drizzled twice in the day but the yatra proceeded smoothly on both the tracks.
Sharma said ‘langars’ have already packed up due to decline in yatra rush over a fortnight back and only one ‘langars’ is serving the pilgrims at Panjtarni at present.
Meanwhile, on the 59th day of darshan today, 353 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave from twin tracks of Baltal in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir and Chandanwari in Anantnag district of South Kashmir.
Till date 2,84,685 pilgrims have performed darshan in holy cave since the two -month long yatra started on June 28. The majority of these pilgrims have returned to their home States while some are on their way back.
According to an officer on yatra duty, 157 pilgrims left for darshan via shortest Baltal track early this morning while 50 left via traditional Chandanwari route to holy cave. Besides, the yatris camping at the transit camps of Sheshnag and Panjtarni also left for their onward sojourn, he added.
He said 120 pilgrims reported back at Baltal by this evening after performing darshan at the cave shrine today.
However, no pilgrim was available at Jammu today to leave for darshan from here this morning despite the fact that the authorities had decided to send the last batch today.
According to Yatra Nodal Officer, Jammu,Arun Manhas, two month Amarnath yatra from Bhagawti Nagar Base Camp culminated today. He said 85,149 yatris left for holy cave from Bhagwati Naagar Yatri Niwas during these two months and 62,770 yatris were registered during this period in three registration camps at Jammu.
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